Tips for Starting a Compost Pile

Last Updated on September 21, 2024 by Amit

If you’re new to gardening or lawn care, you’ve likely heard of composting. Experienced gardeners already know how valuable compost can be, but it might seem a bit mysterious for beginners. Don’t worry—we’re here to guide you! In this article, we’ll show you step-by-step how to get started with composting and how you can enjoy all the benefits it brings to your garden and lawn.

Why Composting Is a Must-Try

Compost improves lawns and gardens: Compost isn’t just for vegetable gardens—it’s incredibly beneficial for lawns, too! Incorporating compost in topdressing can boost soil health, making your lawn lush and green.

Eco-friendly and cost-effective: Composting is a great way to reduce waste and save money. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 30% and 40% of our food supply ends as waste, much of which reaches landfills. Composting turns that waste into gold for your garden and reduces your environmental impact simultaneously!

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What Exactly Is Composting?

Composting is nature’s way of recycling organic materials like yard clippings and kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich soil. When mixed in the right proportions, food scraps, leaves, and grass clippings decompose into a material often referred to as “black gold.” This magical substance enhances soil, helping it retain moisture, improve structure, and provide nutrients for healthy plant growth.

How Composting Works

To make compost, you need five essential components:

1. Carbon (C) – Found in dry, woody materials.
2. Nitrogen (N) – Found in green, moist materials like food scraps and grass clippings.
3. Moisture – Keeps the microbes active.
4. Oxygen (O2) – Helps the microbes breathe and break down materials.
5. Microorganisms – Tiny bacteria, fungi, and worms that do the hard work of decomposing organic matter.

When you mix these elements correctly, microorganisms break down the materials into humus (rich, dark soil). With regular maintenance, a well-managed compost pile can transform waste into usable compost in as little as two to four months.

The 3 Stages of Composting

1. Initial Breakdown (Days 1-2): The process kicks off with mesophilic organisms, which thrive in moderate temperatures (68°F to 113°F). These organisms break down the materials into smaller pieces, raising the pile’s internal temperature.
2. High-Heat Decomposition (Days to Months): As temperatures rise, thermophilic microorganisms (which thrive between 113°F and 252°F) take over. These microbes break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, continuing the decomposition process.
3. Final Breakdown (Weeks to Months): When the thermophiles finish their work, the pile cools, allowing mesophilic organisms to return and complete the final breakdown of organic matter into rich, crumbly compost.

	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3
Temperature	68 – 113°F	113 – 252°F	68 – 113°F
Microorganisms	Mesophilic	Thermophilic	Mesophilic
Length of Time	5-10 days	Days to Several Months	Several Months
Processes Occurring	Breakdown of materials into smaller pieces	Breakdown of proteins, fats, and complex carbohydrates	Cooling and maturation

What to Compost

Your compost pile will need a mix of brown and green materials:

• Brown materials: Carbon-rich ingredients like dry leaves, twigs, shredded newspaper, and sawdust. These provide the structure and energy for microorganisms.
• Green materials: Nitrogen-rich items like food scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings, and fresh plant material. These provide the protein and nutrients for the composting process.

Pro Tip:

For the perfect compost mix, aim for a ratio of about 2/3 brown materials to 1/3 green materials. This will ensure that your compost pile stays balanced and decomposes efficiently.

Note: Avoid adding meat, dairy, and pet waste to your home compost, as these materials can attract pests and take much longer to break down.

Different Ways to Compost

There are many ways to create a compost pile, whether in your backyard or kitchen! Your chosen method depends on your space, budget, and how quickly you want results.

Outdoor Composting Methods

• Compost Pile: Heap your compost materials into a pile, turning them regularly to aerate and accelerate decomposition. You can place the pile in a sunny or shady spot—remember that sunlight helps speed things up.
• Composting Bins: Compost bins can either be open or enclosed. You can DIY a compost bin from wood or buy one premade. Open bins allow for more ventilation, while enclosed bins trap heat and speed up the process. These bins are ideal for small gardens and help keep the compost out of sight.
• Tumblers: Consider a compost tumbler for a hassle-free way to make compost. These cylindrical containers are easy to rotate, allowing quick aeration without much effort. Tumblers are a perfect choice for beginners who want fast results.
• Bokashi Composting: Bokashi is an indoor composting method focusing on fermentation rather than traditional decomposition. Food scraps are combined with inoculated bran inside a bucket to ferment, and the final product is buried in the soil to finish breaking down. This method is excellent for composting tricky items like meat and dairy.

Note: Bokashi composting is different because it allows you to compost meat and dairy, making it a favorite for eco-conscious gardeners looking to reduce food waste.

Indoor Composting Methods

Composting indoors is a viable alternative if you don’t have access to a backyard or outdoor space. One of the most popular indoor methods is vermicomposting, or worm composting. This process uses a specific type of worm, the red wiggler, to break down organic kitchen waste. Vermicomposting is often done in a specially designed worm bin and is highly efficient at producing nutrient-rich compost, perfect for houseplants or outdoor container plants.

Why Vermicomposting?

Traditional outdoor composting isn’t always feasible for apartment dwellers or those with limited space. Vermicomposting offers a solution by turning kitchen scraps into valuable compost without the need for a backyard. The worms do the hard work, breaking down food waste into a material packed with nutrients. This compost can be added to your houseplants or garden containers to boost them.

How to Start a Compost Pile

For those with the space, starting a traditional compost pile outdoors is one of the simplest and most effective ways to recycle organic materials. Setting up a compost pile requires no fancy equipment—just a bit of space and a few easy steps.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Choose Your Spot: Find a location in your yard exposed to bare soil. Ideally, this spot should be in a dry, shaded area near a water source to make maintaining the pile easier.
2. Build a Base Layer: Begin with a few inches of twigs or straw. This layer helps drainage and encourages air circulation, which is crucial for decomposition.
3. Add Your Materials: Alternate between green and brown layers. Green materials like kitchen scraps and fresh grass clippings provide nitrogen, while brown materials like dry leaves, cardboard, and wood chips provide carbon.
4. Incorporate Nitrogen: Adding a nitrogen source, such as manure or even a bit of nitrogen fertilizer, can help kick-start the composting process by providing the necessary fuel for microorganisms to break down the material.
5. Moisten the Pile: Your compost pile should feel like a damp sponge. If it’s too dry, add water. If it’s too wet, mix in more dry material like straw or leaves to absorb excess moisture.
6. Turn the Pile Regularly: Turn your compost pile with a pitchfork or shovel every few weeks. This aerates the pile, allowing oxygen to reach the microbes and speeding up decomposition.

What to Put in a Compost Bin

The beauty of composting is that it can transform many household and garden waste materials into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. Here’s a list of everyday items that can be composted:

• Fruit and Vegetable Peels: Perfect green material to balance out carbon-heavy components.
• Coffee Grounds: An excellent nitrogen source, plus they help reduce odors in the pile.
• Eggshells: Add calcium to your compost, aiding plant growth.
• Tea Bags: Ensure the bags are biodegradable.
• Leaves and Wood Chips: Brown materials that add structure and help aerate the pile.
• Shredded Paper and Cardboard: A great way to recycle paper waste while adding carbon to your compost.

What Not to Compost

Not everything belongs in the compost pile. Certain materials can attract pests, slow decomposition, or even introduce toxins. Here’s what to avoid:

• Animal Products: Meat, dairy, bones, and fats can attract pests and take much longer to break down.
• Oily Foods: Peanut butter, mayonnaise, and oils can interfere with decomposition.
• Pet or Human Waste: These materials can introduce harmful pathogens to your compost.
• Pesticide-Treated Plant Waste: This can introduce chemicals into your compost that could harm your garden.
• Diseased Plants and Weeds: These can spread disease or reseed if not properly decomposed.

Note: To kill weed seeds, your compost pile must reach a temperature of 140°F for at least one to three hours. If you can’t achieve that, leaving weeds out of your pile is best.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Composting

To get the most out of your compost pile, balance is key. Here’s a quick rundown of best practices for speeding up the decomposition process and creating quality compost:

Do:

• Chop Materials: Breaking down materials into smaller pieces helps speed up decomposition.
• Cover the Pile: If you live in a rainy area, consider covering your compost pile to prevent it from getting too soggy.
• Add Nitrogen: If your compost pile has too many brown materials, incorporate a nitrogen-rich source like grass clippings or coffee grounds.
• Incorporate Eggshells: These add calcium to the finished compost, which benefits many plants.

Don’t:

• Leave Food Waste Exposed: This can attract rodents and other unwanted pests.
• Compost Diseased Plant Material: Plant roots, infected leaves, or pesticide-treated plant matter can harm your compost.

How to Tell When Your Compost is Ready

Are you wondering when your compost is ready to go? Compost is finished when the pile’s temperature drops significantly and the materials have broken down into a dark, crumbly substance that smells earthy and fresh. Once your compost reaches this stage, it can be added to your garden beds or containers.

FAQ on Tips for Starting a Compost Pile

Why Does My Compost Pile Smell Bad?

A well-maintained compost pile should have a pleasant, earthy smell. If it’s producing unpleasant odors, the pile might be too wet or compacted. Turn the pile to introduce more oxygen, and if it’s too soggy, add more dry materials like leaves or straw.

What Can I Do with Vegetable Scraps if I Don’t Have a Compost Bin?

No bin? No problem! Try in-place composting. Dig a hole about 12 inches deep in your garden, toss in the vegetable scraps, and cover them with soil. This method enriches your soil directly while keeping waste out of sight.

How Do I Store Compost?

If you plan to use your compost soon, it can be left uncovered for up to a week or two. For long-term storage, keep it in a dry place, like a plastic bin with a loose-fitting lid or an empty garbage can, to prevent excess moisture.

When Is the Best Time to Start a Compost Pile?

Autumn is the perfect time to collect materials like fallen leaves, garden debris, and kitchen scraps. These materials will break down over winter and provide carbon-rich compost by spring.

Even in winter, bacterial colonies in your compost pile can thrive, keeping the process going. Don’t let the cold stop you from composting—rake up those leaves and start building your compost pile in the fall!

When to Call in a Professional

Composting is an excellent way to enrich your garden, but it might be worth calling a lawn care expert if you want to give your lawn or garden a more professional touch. A professional can ensure your lawn is healthy, well-maintained, and thriving all year round.